Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Coastal path to be diverted to protect walkers
AKEY section of the England Coast Path in Somerset will be diverted inland to protect walkers from coastal erosion.
The coast path stretching from Watchet to Blue Anchor has been closed since a cliff fall in 2020 caused a short section near the Warren Farm camp site to fall into the sea, with other smaller sections showing “signs of coastal instability”.
Somerset County Council, working with local landowners and land managers, has now formalised a diversionary route inland, with finger-posts being added along the route and the path being reopened later in the year.
The announcement comes ahead of two schemes at either end of the path designed to protect the B3191 coast road and the nearby properties from coastal erosion, with both schemes due to get under way in the coming weeks.
The coast path is closed between Warren Farm, to the west of Watchet, and the Anchor’s Drop pub and campsite in Blue Anchor.
A lengthy temporary diversion routes walkers from the Home Farm campsite in Blue Anchor between Chapel Cleeve and Old Cleeve, along the existing Monks’ Path to Washford and along the West Somerset Railway into Watchet, rejoining the main route on Mill Lane - a diversion of around five miles.
The council’s rights of way team will be refreshing the signs and maps advertising this diversion for the remainder of the summer to ensure tourists remain safe.
Cllr Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for transport and digital, said: “Ensuring that the new trail offered a safe walking route has been our top priority, along with retaining a coastal experience wherever possible.
“While we understand that this continuing closure has been frustrating for trail users, the presence of some geological faults on this section of our coastline has made finding the right solution key to developing the best outcome.
“Alongside this, the cooperation of the landowners and managers affected has been crucial in enabling us to negotiate a new walking route.”
A map of the revised diversionary route is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
The council will be closing the B3191 Cleeve Hill at the Watchet end of the road for five days from September 5 to install safety gates and new signs to alert motorists in the event of possible cliff falls or other dramatic coastal erosion.
Later in the autumn or early winter, Somerset West and Taunton Council will be carrying out a £3.8 million scheme to protect the Blue Anchor end of the same road and the nearby properties, with rock armour being placed at the base of the cliffs near Blue Anchor Bay.
For more information on the diversion, visit